I almost missed practice entirely today because it ended early, just after 10 a.m., but Cam Sample did not go today. I have a feeling he will be a game time decision against ECU, but we'll have to wait and see.
Jonathan Banks did not practice, either. He was available on an emergency basis only against USF, with Dane Ledford going in for the one play Justin McMillan missed, and it is not clear if Banks will be any better this week. It definitely is an injury that has held him out, but Tulane is not releasing the specifics to keep opponents from knowing what the deal is if he has to play.
Tulane coaches and players say their entire focus is on ECU, as it should be. Since I'm not part of the team and can look ahead to my heart's delight, let's go over the AAC bowl picture. The league's bowl tie-ins are a heap of steaming crap, but going to the postseason is better than the alternative. The full list:
Cure Bowl (Orlando) on Dec. 15 vs. Sun Belt
--Comment: good city, lousy opponent
Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 18 vs. CUSA
--Comment: crappy stadium, crappy opponent
Frisco Bowl (Texas) on Dec. 19 vs. at-large
--Comment: the last three years the opponent has been CUSA, MAC and CUSA
Gasparilla Bowl (Tampa) on Dec. 20 vs. CUSA
--Comment: good city, crappy opponent
Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 22 vs. SEC
--Comment: think Tennessee-Vanderbilt winner or maybe South Carolina
Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth) on Dec. 22 vs Big 12
--Comment: most likely Baylor or TCU
Military Bowl (Annapolis) on Dec. 31 vs. ACC
--Comment: could be anyone in a jumbled mess of mediocrity that could produce 12 bowl teams
The AAC also has secondary tie-ins with the Liberty and Independence bowls if other conferences cannot produce enough bowl eligible teams. The AAC likely will have eight bowl eligible teams, fulfilling all of its obligations if UCF makes one of the big six bowls. If UCF does not, the AAC will be one over its allotment. I project 81 teams nationally to be bowl eligible for 78 spots, but none of the three teams that stay home would be from the AAC.
LOOKING AT THE OPPONENT
I'm not going to play alarmist and act like a team that is 3-18 in conference play under coach Scottie Montgomery is very dangerous, but ECU does present some problems. The Pirates have rolled up 27, 29 and 29 first downs in their last three games. Only two teams--Ohio State and Texas Tech--have averaged more first downs for the season than ECU has in its last three games against Houston, UCF and Memphis.
Wide receiver Trevon Brown, a first-team All-AAC preseason pick, has caught 33 passes for 491 yards and four TDs in that three-game span.
True freshman quarterback Holton Ahlers, a 3-star recruit, has started the last two games and put up prolific numbers without being efficient--he needed 115 throws and 63 completions to net 855 passing yards. Tulane needs to be better against him than in the opener against Wake Forest's true freshman QB, who picked apart a soft defense that did not vary its looks. Ahlers also leads the Pirates in rushing (374 yards) despite starting only twice, so the defense will have to close up the open lanes on its pass rush. Ahlers is no sitting duck.
ECU defensive end Nate Harvey, who walked on as a junior college transfer running back and was awarded a scholarship this August before his senior season, leads the nation with 20 tackles for loss and is second nationally with 9 1/2 sacks. He's an incredible story, so Tulane's vastly improved tackle play will be tested.
Maybe Tulane will run for more than 300 yards again, but I have a feeling the Wave will need more from the passing game and Justin McMillan. East Carolina has watched the video and will totally sell out to stop the run. That means Terren Encalade and Darnell Mooney need to catch everything they can grab against a weak secondary. Mooney is due for a good game after three light weeks (five catches, 68 yards) in a row. He led all AAC receivers before that stretch. Now he is eighth, and he clearly does not have the same chemistry with McMillan as he had with Banks. Another week of practice should help there.
Jonathan Banks did not practice, either. He was available on an emergency basis only against USF, with Dane Ledford going in for the one play Justin McMillan missed, and it is not clear if Banks will be any better this week. It definitely is an injury that has held him out, but Tulane is not releasing the specifics to keep opponents from knowing what the deal is if he has to play.
Tulane coaches and players say their entire focus is on ECU, as it should be. Since I'm not part of the team and can look ahead to my heart's delight, let's go over the AAC bowl picture. The league's bowl tie-ins are a heap of steaming crap, but going to the postseason is better than the alternative. The full list:
Cure Bowl (Orlando) on Dec. 15 vs. Sun Belt
--Comment: good city, lousy opponent
Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 18 vs. CUSA
--Comment: crappy stadium, crappy opponent
Frisco Bowl (Texas) on Dec. 19 vs. at-large
--Comment: the last three years the opponent has been CUSA, MAC and CUSA
Gasparilla Bowl (Tampa) on Dec. 20 vs. CUSA
--Comment: good city, crappy opponent
Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 22 vs. SEC
--Comment: think Tennessee-Vanderbilt winner or maybe South Carolina
Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth) on Dec. 22 vs Big 12
--Comment: most likely Baylor or TCU
Military Bowl (Annapolis) on Dec. 31 vs. ACC
--Comment: could be anyone in a jumbled mess of mediocrity that could produce 12 bowl teams
The AAC also has secondary tie-ins with the Liberty and Independence bowls if other conferences cannot produce enough bowl eligible teams. The AAC likely will have eight bowl eligible teams, fulfilling all of its obligations if UCF makes one of the big six bowls. If UCF does not, the AAC will be one over its allotment. I project 81 teams nationally to be bowl eligible for 78 spots, but none of the three teams that stay home would be from the AAC.
LOOKING AT THE OPPONENT
I'm not going to play alarmist and act like a team that is 3-18 in conference play under coach Scottie Montgomery is very dangerous, but ECU does present some problems. The Pirates have rolled up 27, 29 and 29 first downs in their last three games. Only two teams--Ohio State and Texas Tech--have averaged more first downs for the season than ECU has in its last three games against Houston, UCF and Memphis.
Wide receiver Trevon Brown, a first-team All-AAC preseason pick, has caught 33 passes for 491 yards and four TDs in that three-game span.
True freshman quarterback Holton Ahlers, a 3-star recruit, has started the last two games and put up prolific numbers without being efficient--he needed 115 throws and 63 completions to net 855 passing yards. Tulane needs to be better against him than in the opener against Wake Forest's true freshman QB, who picked apart a soft defense that did not vary its looks. Ahlers also leads the Pirates in rushing (374 yards) despite starting only twice, so the defense will have to close up the open lanes on its pass rush. Ahlers is no sitting duck.
ECU defensive end Nate Harvey, who walked on as a junior college transfer running back and was awarded a scholarship this August before his senior season, leads the nation with 20 tackles for loss and is second nationally with 9 1/2 sacks. He's an incredible story, so Tulane's vastly improved tackle play will be tested.
Maybe Tulane will run for more than 300 yards again, but I have a feeling the Wave will need more from the passing game and Justin McMillan. East Carolina has watched the video and will totally sell out to stop the run. That means Terren Encalade and Darnell Mooney need to catch everything they can grab against a weak secondary. Mooney is due for a good game after three light weeks (five catches, 68 yards) in a row. He led all AAC receivers before that stretch. Now he is eighth, and he clearly does not have the same chemistry with McMillan as he had with Banks. Another week of practice should help there.